Monthly Archives: February 2014

The Delta Hotel Winnipeg welcomed 2014 with a contemporary and exciting face-lift, introducing their guests to a more fresh and modern Delta. The downtown hotel, best known for their exceptional customer service, connects to both the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg and MTS Centre through glass sky-walks, allowing for a friendly commute for both business and leisure guests.

During renovations, all of their guestrooms underwent massive re-modelling, allowing for an even better experience for their over-night guests. Their new and improved lobby and guest services is now opened up, thanks to the addition of the new atrium featuring a stunning staircase. For guests looking at hosting weddings, conferences or galas, the Delta Winnipeg can now offer their newly renovated second floor event centre which features both intimate and larger conference rooms. The highlight of their event centre, their beautiful 25 ft. high Grand Ballroom, was renovated with a crisp and contemporary look in mind, allowing for a modern and flexible design space for their guests.

The Delta Hotel franchise, which proudly names their employees as their greatest assets, is celebrating 14 consecutive years ranked as one of the Best Employers in Canada (2014).

Children’s Wish Shiver Ball (2014) taken in the Delta Winnipeg Grand Ballroom on Friday, February 28. Decor and Rentals by Events by Emma, Linens by Planned Perfectly and Lighting by Elite Lighting.

Next time you’re in downtown Winnipeg, be sure to visit the Delta Winnipeg and take advantage of their many secret gems, such as their outdoor and indoor pools, their club floor lounge, and their on-site restaurants: Elephant & Castle and Blaze Bistro & Lounge.

For more information about your next event or stay at the Delta Winnipeg, visit www.deltahotels.com.

Believe it or not: wedding season is near. And our brides are pouring in and out of our office, as we start to finalize their wedding details.

This year, weddings will aim to please. Guests will be treated to a unique and memorable event, as more focus will be made to enhancing the experience for all. Bigger and more extravagant décor, interactive and exclusive entertainment, and personal touches from the bride and groom, are just a FEW things to watch out for.

So brides, take note! Here are our favourite wedding trends for 2014:

1. Luxurious BrideThis year we’ll see a shift from the vintage/DIY bride to the more luxurious and glamorous bride. The luxurious trend originated from Kate Middleton’s royal wedding back in 2011, and will introduce lace sleeves, pearl accessories, detailed beading and even higher necklines.

2. Taller and Longer Centre PiecesRectangular reception tables were introduced a few years back as a more modern and space-efficient alternative to the traditional round tables of 10. This year the new trends for tablescapes are again favoured for rectangular tables, creating taller and elongated centrepieces. The alternating use of tall extravagant vases or candelabras with a cluster of smaller vases and candles throughout the same table can help create a full and lavish look.

Photo Credit: blfStudios

3. Slow-Motion Video BoothOne of our favourite new wedding trends for 2014 is the slow-motion video booth, which is a fun and unique twist to the traditional photo booth. Silly string, bubbles, confetti and hilarious hats and props can easily be purchased to dress up your booth’s appeal. The booth will leave your guests entertained all night, and when the video goes through final edits you’ll have a unique keepsake to remind you of your day. Check out Jhamily and Monis’ slow-motion video done by Paperback Films.

4. Metallic AccentsWhen it comes to wedding decor, metallic accents are key to achieve the luxurious look. Find ways to incorporate the metallic in stationary, table decor, or by creating a photo wall with beautiful metallic frames. A new and upcoming trend is the ‘metallic cake,’ which is the perfect addition to an elegant and glamorous affair.

Photo Credit: blfStudios

5. Personalized ThemeIt’s your big day, why not make it your own? Personalized themes, colour palettes, stationary and even decaled dance floors with your monogram will help create a unique event tailored to you and your groom. Your wedding should represent the two of you as a couple, and the love you both share. Customized photo walls, guest books and even a signature drink can all be incorporated to tell your love story.

Photo Credit: Joel Ross Photography

To find out more about 2014 wedding trends, or to discuss an upcoming event you are planning, connect with Events by Emma at eventsbyemma.com, or call 204-779-8812.

Planning a fundraising gala is far from a walk in the park. Gala planning requires commitment, resourcefulness, and a lot of man-hours. However, for not-for-profits and charities, their annual galas are essential for their cash flow, donor stewardship, and for raising public awareness of their cause.

Each year more and more galas get thrown in the mix, each with a worthwhile and meaningful cause. With so many competing galas fighting for the spotlight, it’s crucial for organizations to take the right measures to avoid being left in the dark.

To ensure the success of your fundraising event, follow these six steps:

1. Save the Date
First rule of business, choose your date as early as possible. These dates are often finalized as far as a year in advance. Yes, this means our clients sometimes finalize next year’s date, even before this year’s date takes place. Be sure to check that your date doesn’t conflict with any religious holidays, large city events (e.g. hockey games), or even any competing galas that may have your sponsors or ticket-buyers torn. If all is a go, run your date off with the venue of your choice and book!

Photo Credit: Manuel F. Sousa Photography

2. Set GoalsWhat is our fundraising goal? How many seats are we hoping to fill? What are our revenue streams during the event? Are we collecting live and silent auction prizes? These are all important questions that should be answered at the beginning of the planning process. Your goals will help shape what your event will look like, and what steps you’ll need to take to make it reality.

3. Have DeadlinesIt’s so important to schedule a strict timeline and critical path of deadlines and stick to them. Plan as much as you can in advance. Send out those sponsorship packages earlier than you did last year. Schedule your meetings with the venue and vendors at the beginning of the planning process to ensure they’re available. Most importantly, be sure to follow-up with everyone you said you’d follow-up with.

4. Find a CatchIt’s important to distinguish to potential sponsors and ticket-purchasers why your gala will be different (and more valuable) than others. The key is to know your target market, and to understand what compels them. At times, it means bringing in an all-star sports athlete to speak at the event. Other times, it means wowing them with the décor and entertainment, or maybe even giving away a once in a lifetime auction prize.

Photo Credit: Ian Mccausland

5. Hire a Planner and/or DesignerCompanies often underestimate the time and resources it requires to pull off a fundraising gala. Chances are the internal employee who is planning your gala is already trying to balance a full-time workload. In order to yield the best results, invest in a professional team of planners and designers and take the stress off of your staff. When the day finally comes, your planner will have décor and production covered, while your staff can enjoy the night and schmooze with donors.

6. Do Something DifferentDonating money to an important cause looks great on any company, but let’s face it, after countless galas, they all start to blend together. Be sure to bring in key-note speakers who have unique and compelling stories and testimonials. Go beyond the typical chicken and potato banquet main course and try fun cultural food stations. In addition, keep the party going all night with an energetic live band that performs covers tailored to your crowd’s taste. By throwing in interactive and entertaining elements, it will keep your guests engaged and raving about your gala (and your cause) for days and months long after.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Hiebert Photography

To find out more about how to plan a successful gala, or to discuss an upcoming event you are planning, connect with Events by Emma at eventsbyemma.com, or call 204-779-8812.

February is flying by, and we’re beginning to see more of our brides and grooms as our wedding client meetings become more and more frequent. With wedding season approaching, we’re starting our mock-up season, where we work with our couples to finalize the little details of their wedding.

Before putting together any mock-up, our first consideration and thought goes into: COLOUR.

Here are two colour inspirations for your big day: Day 5 “Paloma” and Day 6 “Radiant Orchid.”

This year’s The Winnipeg of Chamber Spirit of Winnipeg Awards Gala will take place next Friday, February 28 at The Fairmont Winnipeg.

Events by Emma is partnering with The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce once again to put together the 5th annual Spirit of Winnipeg Awards Gala. Dubbed as the “Academy Awards of Winnipeg,” this highly-anticipated event is about honouring and celebrating local businesses that are making a difference.

Last year, we transformed The Fairmont Winnipeg ballroom into an extravagent, alluring and over-the-top setting, where The Chamber recognized and honoured their amazing award finalists. Their six award categories include: Not-for-Profit, Charity, Start-up Business, Small Business, Medium Business and Large Business.

We’re almost half way through our LOVE COLOUR series, in honour of Valentine’s Day, and Day 4 highlights “Celosia Orange.”

Three Ways to Add Colour to Your Event:1. Candles
Don’t ever feel restricted to the typical white or ivory votive and pillar candle. Feel free to do something others often don’t do, and play around with the colour (and quite possibly – scents!) of your candles.

2. Vases
In our table design, we pulled the table colour and design together with a tall clear vase of you guessed it — oranges! You can establish the same easy lush look by filling your vases with any fillers that use your colours.. be creative!

3. Linen AccentIf you’re afraid of a dominant and bright solid coloured linen, you can always substitute it for a linen with a soft (or dramatic) pattern that pulls accents of your colours.

At Events by Emma, we’re so proud to specialize in cultural event design and production. Here in Winnipeg, we’re so lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing and interesting cultures, each with their own unique values and traditions.

Three Ways to Add Colour to Your Event:1. Decorative Pillows
Try mixing up your seating arrangement with unique accent chairs, such as love seats accented with a beautiful decorative pillow.

2. Wine Glasses
Bringing out your colours with customized wine glasses is a great opportunity to add the extra “wow” factor to your table settings.

3. Dessert
Everything placed on our EBE tables is strategic and meant to emphasize the beauty of our tables… and yes, that means even the desserts! Work with your venue’s chef to ensure his masterpieces accent yours.

Our designers, and our clients, can attest that picking a colour scheme for an event takes time. It surely isn’t a quick 1 2 3decision, but instead requires some thought and careful consideration of the “big idea” of the event.

Your colour choices can distinguish the overall mood and feel of the event, and in turn can affect the way your brand is perceived to your guests.

Are we going for a cheerful, happy and light look? If so try using a bright yellow shade, like our Day 1: Freesia table design for our LOVE COLOUR series.

Or are we trying to accomplish a daring, high-energy and edgy mood? If that’s the case, you would most likely go for shades of red.

For Day 2 of our LOVE COLOUR series, this new 2014 colour trend Sand creates a lovely sophisticated but luxurious look.

Three Ways to Add Colour to Your Event

1. CHAIR SWAG
Why not make a chiavari chair even MORE fabulous with decorative fabric embellishments? You can also use coloured fabric or satin blooms to dress them up and add that extra ‘WOW’ factor.

2. TABLE SETTING DECOR
A way to really bring out your colour theme is by incorporating small decorative accents on your table settings. They may seem subtle, but they can do a lot! We love adding a fresh bloom by our napkins or menus to tie our table design together.

3. TABLE NUMBERSWhen your guests are walking into the room, the first thing they’re looking for is their table number — so, be sure to make them easy on the eyes! Simply designs and clear typography always does the trick.

After finalizing the date of our client’s event, the next big decision is always COLOUR. Before moving forward with floral arrangements, table linens and event design, we have to decide on the event’s colour palette, which could consist of vibrant hues, subtle accents, and complimentary neutrals.

Pantone’s Fashion Colour Report for Spring 2014 has us SO excited about this year’s top colour trends, we just have to blog about it! This year’s colour trends are a mixture of soft pastels and vivid brights. According to Pantone, the colour equilibrium spring palette is inspired by blooming flowers and traveling abroad.

So, In honour of our favourite holiday here at EBE, Valentine’s Day, we’re counting down to February 14 with our new LOVE COLOUR series.

Each day we’ll be sharing with you a table design our EBE team put together highlighting one of the amazing colour trends from Pantone’s Fashion Colour Report for Spring 2014. Each day, we’ll share new ways you can incorporate pops of colour in your table designs.

Here’s Day 1: Freesia (Pantone 14-0852)!

Photography: Moore Photography

Three Ways to Add Colour to your Event:

1. LINENS
Don’t be afraid to make a statement with a bright and colourful linen! Be sure to experiment with the different textures, as they too also make a world of a difference.

2. STATIONARY
One of our favourite ways to incorporate our colour palette is by using stationary to add pops of colour on our table design. Don’t go overboard, sometimes all you need is hints and accents of your main colour on the stationary designs.

3. FLORALS
Oh my, where do we even begin? Flowers is the perfect way to bring colour to life on your table designs. Depending on the season and time of year, you can have your pick with blooms that goes with your colour and your budget.

About Us

Events by Emma’s fresh approach and innovative thinking have made it one of the most sought-after planning and design companies in Canada. Named one of Canada's Top 5 Planners, with over fifteen years of experience our creative and dedicated team of planners are proven industry leaders that specialize in couture planning, production and design for every occasion.